What are the Possible Consequences of Viral Infection of an Animal

Question

What are the possible consequences of viral infection of an animal cell?
A) rapid lysis or latent infections
B) lysogeny followed by eventual lysis
C) lysis or lysogeny
D) Outcomes vary from rapid lysis to persistent infections, latent infections, or cancer.

Accepted Answer

Viral infections can lead to a range of outcomes in animal cells, including rapid lysis, latent infections (where the virus remains dormant within the host cell), lysogeny (where the virus integrates its genome into the host cell's genome), or persistent infections (where the virus continues to replicate within the host cell without causing cell death). In some cases, viral infections can also contribute to the development of cancer in animal cells. Therefore, D is the best answer as it encompasses all of these possibilities.